Hi All,
I am hoping to get a “caveman” understanding of the plumbing system for our pool, so I can correctly connect the passive solar heating panels that I have. Here are the details...
32 by 16 (by 52”) above ground Intex pool, installed on a leveled area on a slope/stepped site. The water level is about 1 foot above grade at the higher “step”, and the above ground pump (Hayward 1-1/2 hp) and old Pac Fab sand filter are at grade on the “lower step”
Currently, I have 4 4’ by 8’ panels and 2 2’ by 20’ panels that are atop a pergola, meaning the panels are about 13 feet above the pump and filter.
To add to the head pressure issue that I created, I also (stupidly) routed the plumbing so that the water needs to travel through one 2’ by 20’ panel before going though each 4’ by 8’ panel and finally though the last 2’ by 20’ panel before returning to the pool. As you might guess, between the routing and the head pressure, the return is a trickle...
I know that I need to change the setup. What I am hoping to learn is the amount of rise that is reasonable for the pump and what setup is better for the panels. We used to live at a house with an o ground pool that was heated by the same type of panels. The panels were on a flat-roofed addition and the pump and filter were about 9 feet below the panels (but still above the water line. The panels were plumbed in a manifold style, which I suspect will be part of the solution that I seek.
As always, any advice will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Davos
I am hoping to get a “caveman” understanding of the plumbing system for our pool, so I can correctly connect the passive solar heating panels that I have. Here are the details...
32 by 16 (by 52”) above ground Intex pool, installed on a leveled area on a slope/stepped site. The water level is about 1 foot above grade at the higher “step”, and the above ground pump (Hayward 1-1/2 hp) and old Pac Fab sand filter are at grade on the “lower step”
Currently, I have 4 4’ by 8’ panels and 2 2’ by 20’ panels that are atop a pergola, meaning the panels are about 13 feet above the pump and filter.
To add to the head pressure issue that I created, I also (stupidly) routed the plumbing so that the water needs to travel through one 2’ by 20’ panel before going though each 4’ by 8’ panel and finally though the last 2’ by 20’ panel before returning to the pool. As you might guess, between the routing and the head pressure, the return is a trickle...
I know that I need to change the setup. What I am hoping to learn is the amount of rise that is reasonable for the pump and what setup is better for the panels. We used to live at a house with an o ground pool that was heated by the same type of panels. The panels were on a flat-roofed addition and the pump and filter were about 9 feet below the panels (but still above the water line. The panels were plumbed in a manifold style, which I suspect will be part of the solution that I seek.
As always, any advice will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Davos
